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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. current — electric
  3. bound — tied together
  4. press — newspapers
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. prune — to trim
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. current — of water
  9. track — a path
  10. press — to push
  11. bound — obliged
  12. press — a publisher
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. bound — certain
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. stock — shares
  18. stock — goods
  19. current — happening now
  20. track — to keep track
  21. branch — a division
  22. prune — to trim
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. branch — of a bank

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com